Gillaspie grand slam helps White Sox beat Jays

Published: Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014 10:29 p.m. CST

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(AP photo)

The White Sox's Conor Gillaspie celebrates his grand slam with teammates Adam Dunn (left) and Avisail Garcia (right) during the first inning Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays at U.S. Cellular Field.

"It's not like you wouldn't expect him to hit home runs, but he's just a line drive hitter," Ventura said. "When he hits it good, it's going to go."

Sox right-hander Scott Carroll (5-7) went 5 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks.

Toronto's Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer, his 27th this season and first since returning from the disabled list on Friday. The Blue Jays have lost five of six and 11 of 15 to fall 7 ½ games behind Baltimore in the AL East and four behind Seattle in the AL wild card race.

Hutchison has given up six runs or more in four of his last seven starts.

"I had two outs, and I had two strikes," Hutchison said of the Gillaspie's at-bat. "I had a good chance to get through the inning with no runs and I gave up six, and put us in a big hole."

Danks added a third RBI on a sac fly in the sixth. Jake Petricka earned his ninth save in 12 chances after loading the bases in the ninth.

"It wasn't like we didn't have any shots," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "We just couldn't get that big hit."

Encarnacion golfed his homer just into the left field bullpen in the fifth as Toronto cut it to 6-4. Pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro singled in a run in the sixth to make it 6-5.

TOP PRIZE

Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon, the third overall pick in this year's MLB draft and one of Chicago's top prospects, is scheduled make his Triple-A debut with Charlotte on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Sox: LHP Chris Sale (10-2, 2.01) will face Baltimore RHP Bud Norris (10-7, 3.75) in Chicago on Monday to start a three-game series. After an off-day on Thursday, Baltimore has a three-game set against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

SETTING AVI-SAIL

Although the Sox are out of contention, the return of speedy, 23-year-old Avisail Garcia will give them a boost. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Venezuelan, acquired last season from Detroit as part of a three-way deal involving Boston, also has the power to fit in the middle of the lineup.

His next steps: Consistency and playing a full major league season, according to manager Robin Ventura. "There's a lot of learning curve that he'll have," Ventura said. "I think it's similar to what Jose's (Abreu) gone through this season."